Detroit Lions hope to give Thomas a fresh start

For the Detroit Lions he’s yet another option on an offense which is ranked second in the NFL averaging 407.6 yards per game.

Thomas was acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade for a fifth-round draft pick and was practiced on Thursday for the first time. Lucky him, it was a day that practice was outside. It was a blustery grad day with the temperature at 41 degrees.

“A little climate change for me,’’ Thomas said. “It was good — obviously a quick tempo, kind of similar to Jacksonville which tries to have a quick tempo as well. Definitely two different programs.’’

Thomas was the Lions only trade with the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

“Mike is an experienced receiver, adds to our veteran depth. He has a lot of talent, a lot of skill, has been a very productive guy in his career,’’ Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said.

“He’s a very versatile player, I see him kind of as an offensive utility player for us, also a special teams guy,’’ Mayhew said. “Our coaches will decide how to use him but he’s a very talented guy who can help us win football games.’’

Mayhew added the coaches will decide what role he will play. It’s possible he could line up in the backfield like Jahvid Best used to do.

“He does a lot of things on offense,’’ Mayhew said. “I’ve seen him line up in the backfield, I’ve seen him line up in the slot, I’ve seen him outside. Punt returns, kickoff returns — he can do a lot of different things for us and he has experience making plays.’’

Thomas, who has a chance to play on Sunday against his former team, will play wherever he is needed.

“Whatever they see me as I’m going to try to follow suit,’’ Thomas said. “I think I’m pretty explosive. I think I can definitely help make plays and complement what’s already here. Whatever role they see for me I’m going to try to digest it, accept it and make the most of it.’’

For Thomas it’s a chance for a fresh start after three-plus seasons in Jacksonville where he started three of seven games this season and 28 of 45 games played the last three seasons.

“I was kind of getting set to the side a little bit to the side, this will be somewhere where the opportunity that may come is a definite benefit for me,’’ Thomas said. “I look at it that way and I’m happy to be here.’’

The Jaguars had drafted wide receivers Justin Blackmon this year and Cecil Shorts in 2011.

Thomas, who will wear No. 19, said the Lions had not yet picked his brains about the Jaguars offensive schemes.

Also it hasn’t hit him that he’ll be playing against guys who were his teammates on Monday.

“It probably hasn’t hit me yet until Sunday when I get back on the field and see those guys,’’ Thomas said. “When you spend so much time at a place and come back and have to go right back that’s a little of a whirlwind that’s a part of it, I can handle it.’’

He would love to be a part of a Lions’ win on Sunday. He’d love even more to score a touchdown because Jaguars aren’t allowed to celebrate after scoring touchdowns instead they’re instructed to hand the ball to the official.